FRAME FOR CYCLES, IN PARTICULAR FOR MOUNTAIN BIKES
The frame (10) comprises a seat tube (11) to the top end (11a) of which a saddle (12) is to be connected, and a front structure (14) and a rear structure (15) which are identical and have, in side view, a generally V-shaped configuration with the ends (14a, 14b; 15a, 15b) connected to the seat tube (11) and the respective vertices (14c, 15c) facing in opposite directions relative to the seat tube (11).
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The present invention relates to frames for cycles.
The term “cycles” in this description and in the appended claims is not intended to be limited solely to bicycles but extends in general to cycles of different types such as, for example, bicycles with assisted propulsion, motor cycles, etc.
Specifically, the subject of the present invention is a frame for cycles in particular for so-called “mountain bikes”, comprising in known manner:
a seat tube to the top end of which a saddle is to be connected, and
a front structure and a rear structure which have, in side view, a generally V-shaped configuration with the ends connected to the seat tube and the respective vertices facing in opposite directions relative to the seat tube.
In the solutions which are used predominantly at the moment, a frame for cycles is produced in the form of a network structure comprising a predetermined number, possibly even quite a large number of tubular elements which are connected to one another, usually by welding. The production processes are quite complex and expensive owing to the large number of parts to be interconnected and to the number of operations required.
An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a frame for cycles of the type specified above which has a simplified structure suitable for permitting a corresponding simplification of the production processes which are thus rendered more economical.
This object is achieved according to the invention by a frame for cycles the basic characteristics of which are defined in appended claim 1.
A further object of the invention is to propose a frame for cycles which enables the same frame elements to be used to produce both frames in a “men's” version, that is, with a tube or similar element which extends approximately horizontally between the region of attachment of the front wheel fork and the region in which the seat tube supports the saddle, and frames in a “ladies'” version in which the frame forms a supporting member extending upwards between the said two regions.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following detailed description which is given purely by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
In
The frame 10 comprises a seat tube 11 operatively arranged vertically or almost vertically (that is, having an inclination to the vertical which may reach angles of the order of 30°).
The seat tube 11 has an upper end 11a which carries a saddle 12. A pedal unit 13 of known type is connected to the lower end 11b of the seat tube 11.
The frame 10 further comprises a front structure and a rear structure which are indicated 14 and 15. These structures have, in side view, a generally V-shaped configuration with their respective ends 14a, 14b and 15a, 15b connected to the seat tube 11 and their respective vertices 14c and 15c facing in opposite directions relative to the seat tube 11.
As can be seen from the drawings, in the frame 10 according to the invention, the structures 14 and 15 are identical and interchangeable.
With reference to
With reference in particular to
In the embodiment shown (
The corresponding space between the homologous arms of the V-shaped elements 16 and 18 of the front structure 14 may be used to fit one or more accessories on the frame 10, such as bags, navigation devices, etc.
A steering tube 21 (
Although reference is made in the drawings and in the foregoing description to a front structure and a rear structure each comprising a pair of V-shaped elements, a cycle frame in which these structures are identical and interchangeable but each comprises a single V-shaped element falls within the scope of the invention. In this case, the rear wheel 20 is cantilevered beside the vertex of the V-shaped element of the rear structure.
In the embodiments shown by way of example in the drawings, the vertices 14c, 15c and the ends 14a, 14b and 15a, 15b of the front structure 14 and of the rear structure 15 define, in side view, respective scalene triangles, in particular right-angled triangles with two sides or catheti of unequal length.
In the frame shown in
The rear structure 15 in the frame of
In the configuration shown in
However, the frame 10 can be reconfigured extremely easily so as to be as shown in
In the frame of
The configuration of the frame 10 according to
In the frame according to
A further different frame suitable for use for the construction of a “men's” bicycle is thus produced.
A frame 10 with yet another different configuration is shown in
The frame of
In all of the frames of
Moreover,
Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining the same, the forms of embodiment and details of construction may be varied widely with respect to those described and illustrated purely by way of non-limiting example, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A frame (10) for cycles (1) in particular for so-called mountain bikes, comprising:
- a seat tube (11) to the top end (11a) of which a saddle (12) is to be connected, and
- a front structure (14) and a rear structure (15) which have, in side view, a generally V-shaped configuration with the ends (14a, 14b; 15a, 15b) connected to the seat tube (11) and the respective vertices (14c, 5c) facing in opposite directions relative to the seat tube (11),
- the frame (10) being characterized in that the front structure (14) and the rear structure (15) are identical to one another.
2. A frame for cycles according to claim 1 in which, in side view, the vertices (14c, 15c) and the ends (14a, 14b; 15a, 15b) of the front structure (14) and of the rear structure (15) define respective isosceles triangles.
3. A frame for cycles according to claim 1 in which, in side view, the vertices (14c, 15c) and the ends (14a, 14b; 15a, 15b) of the front structure (14) and of the rear structure (15) define respective scalene triangles, in particular right-angled triangles.
4. A frame for cycles according to claim 1 in which each of the front structure (14) and the rear structure (15) comprises two identical V-shaped elements (16, 18; 17, 19) having their ends connected to the seat tube (11) and their respective vertices spaced apart transversely.
5. A frame for cycles according to claim 4 in which the V-shaped elements (16, 18; 17, 19) of the same structure (14, 15) have their homologous ends interconnected, in particular by welding.
6. A frame for cycles according to claim 1 in which the front structure (14) and the rear structure (15) have respective first ends (14a, 15a) connected to an end portion (11a or 11b) of the seat tube (11) and respective second ends (14b, 15b) connected to a central or intermediate portion (11c) of the seat tube (11).
7. A frame for cycles according to claim 1 in which the front structure (14) has an end (14a) connected to the upper end portion (11a) of the seat tube (11).
8. A frame for cycles according to claim 1 in which the front structure (14) has an end (14a) connected to the lower end portion of the seat tube (11).
9. A frame for cycles according to claim 1 in which the rear structure (15) has an end (15a) connected to the upper end portion (11a) of the seat tube (11).
10. A frame for cycles according to claim 1 in which the rear structure (15) has an end (15a) connected to the lower end portion (11b) of the seat tube (11).
11. A frame for cycles according to claim 1 in which the rear structure (15) is connected to the seat tube (11) in an articulated manner and by means of a shock-absorber device (30) in a manner such that the rear structure (15) can pivot about a horizontal transverse axis, relative to the seat tube (11).
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 16, 2007
Publication Date: Sep 2, 2010
Patent Grant number: 8128113
Applicant: Fioravanti S.r.l. (Torino)
Inventors: Matteo Fioravanti (Moncalieri), Diego Squillace (Torino)
Application Number: 12/161,277
International Classification: B62K 19/00 (20060101);